Committing to a healthy lifestyle can be tough, especially when you have very little experience in the kitchen. With such a busy schedule, it’s hard to stick to a strictly healthy diet as well. There is also a misconception that healthy eating means that you’ll only be eating bland and unexciting meals everyday. However, healthy cooking isn’t difficult, boring or expensive, you just need to know a few tricks to get started. Here are some clean-cooking tricks that’ll help you stick to your diet and slim down in no time.

Switch to spray

Cooking oil is essential in the kitchen, but it can be difficult to get the right amount on the pan. Most people usually add way too much and end up ingesting more calories. So if you want to avoid drenching your pan in unhealthy vegetable oil, try using a cooking spray. Sprays will allow you to use less oil and give you just the right amount to cook your meals.

You should also go with cooking sprays that provide healthier fats like olive oil or coconut oil. Olive oil tends to burn up faster so cook in medium low heat if you’re planning to use the spray. Alternatively, coconut oil can withstand higher temperatures, so use this if you’re planning to crisp up some chicken.

Avoid sodium rich foods

A lot of our favorite food items like bacon, frozen pizza and cold cuts contain way too much sodium. Salty foods tend to be high in fat, which leads to higher levels of bad cholesterol in your body. With increased bad cholesterol levels comes greater risk of heart disease. You can simply decrease your daily sodium intake by avoiding salty dishes high in fat.

However, don’t assume that your food will be tasteless from this point on. You can use salt-free seasonings to substitute for excessive sodium intake. Herbs and spices like red chili peppers, paprika, rosemary, garlic, and oregano give your meals some nice flavor without feeling like you need an extra helping of salt.

Save some money

Stop thinking that clean eating is pricey. Buying in season produce or food that’s on sale can save your wallet from taking such a big hit. You can also buy your protein in bulk and keep it in the freezer so you’ll never have to worry about frequent visits to the grocery store or, even worse, a fast food joint.

Load up on veggies

Throwing in more vegetables in your diet is a healthy way to add more volume in your meals. Go for green vegetables like broccoli, spinach or kale to add more fiber to your diet – you’ll feel like you’re eating more without consuming too many calories. If you’re bored of eating salads all day, try adding some peppers in your omelet or you can stir fry your veggies instead. When stir frying, it’s important to stir the vegetables in high heat quickly because you’ll lose the nutrients over longer periods of frying.

Prepare meals in advance

If you’re always busy during the weekdays, sticking to a strict diet regimen can be tough. That’s why you should plan and prep your dishes on the weekend. If you take the extra effort to prepare your meals ahead of time, you can save yourself from cheating on your diet for the coming week.

Boil eggs for low-fat protein

Instead of frying an egg for breakfast, boil it instead. Hard boiled eggs are a healthy source of protein, and they’re pretty easy to prepare. You simply toss the egg in boiling water – no oil or butter needed.

Clean eating means changing your cooking habits so that you can easily stick to a healthy diet. Although it can be a lot to take in at first, we can assure you that it is well worth the effort. So consider using any or all of these healthy cooking tips if you want to see a slimmer waist and some good results on the weighing scale.

If you need some help transitioning to a new diet plan, give us a call. We’ll be happy to help.